Weekly Update

Facebook Frenzy Continues!

With the campaign season beginning next week, the candidates have been adding facebook friends like crazy! Here is a look at the increases:

Rhonda Greenway: 1,475 (1,047) Up 428

Adam Beaves: 1,188 (904) Up 284

Dakotah Reed: 836 (562) Up 274

Zach Simonson: 634 (559) Up 75

Spencer Walrath: 1,759 (1,694) Up 65

Ian Goldsmith: 1,870 (1831) Up 39

S0 if you thought for a second, even after the previous post, that facebook friend counts didn't matter: think again. At this point you have most likely received a request from one of the candidates.

New Student Organization

While some doubted their legitimacy and for many up to this point it was purely speculation that they would run, Dakotah Reed and Zach Simonson officially threw their hats into the ring as candidates this week by creating their official student organization, "Reed Simonson for UNI." Details aren't available yet as to who is involved and what positions they will be holding, but we will post those as soon as we have them. It seems a little late in the game to be creating a group. After all, the initial purpose of creating a student group is to announce your intention to run. After that you can begin reserving tables in the union, as well as table tents, bubble boards, and meeting rooms for your group. So while they now have that ability, the other candidates who have had their organizations for at least a week or more, will have an incredible advantage.

Legitimizing Themselves as Candidates

Often times, one of the things you will notice is that the candidates who are senators will begin to speak more frequently at the meetings to draw attention to themselves. Whether this is subconscious or intentional, candidates are attempting to legitimize themselves as leaders in NISG. If they can be the voice of reason or can influence the senate on an important vote, it makes them more credible to other senators. All 4 of the candidates who are currently senators (Greenway, Beaves, Walrath, Goldsmith) spoke frequently and impressively at the senate meeting Wednesday. It also became apparent that others were listening to them when they spoke. This is a big deal. It shows that they command respect and that the others want to hear what these leaders have to say. This is clearly a competitive advantage to being on senate that the Reed-Simonson ticket really lacks.

Rewerts Named Commissioner

In a somewhat shocking move (to this reporter/columnist), the NISG Senate and President Joel Anderson appointed Emeritus Senator Gage Rewerts as Election Commissioner. He will oversee the upcoming election. Current Graduate College Senator Dale Yurs stepped down from the position to focus on his academics. If you follow NISG you know that Mr. Rewerts is known for his radical behavior in Senate. 10 minute speeches, flipping chairs, inappropriate language, and sometimes crazy ideas (like making senate a monarchy) have become the norm for the former "maverick" of the NISG Senate. It will be interesting to see how Mr. Rewerts will do in his new position. Something tells me the NISG Supreme Court should be on stand by...I am hopeful they aren't needed though. Stay tuned!